Feb 17 • 12:44 UTC 🇪🇸 Spain El País

The Government will link the social electricity bonus to families' income

The Spanish government has approved a new National Strategy against Energy Poverty that ties electricity bill discounts to family income, affecting large families with high earnings.

On Tuesday, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved the new National Strategy against Energy Poverty for 2026-2030, which includes a significant change concerning the social bonus for electricity. This move has long been advocated by various associations who argued that the current system was inequitable. The new policy aims to ensure that the electricity discounts received by beneficiaries are directly linked to their family income, which means that large families—those with three or more children—who previously enjoyed discounts regardless of their income level will now be assessed based on their earnings.

This reform is especially important as it reflects a broader concern about fairness and sustainability in social support systems. The strategy will leave out households that have high earnings despite being classified as large families, which could lead to substantial changes in how energy support is distributed in Spain. As energy prices continue to rise and economic pressures increase for many households, the government aims to create a fairer allocation of resources based on actual need rather than family size alone.

However, it is essential to note that the National Strategy against Energy Poverty does not hold normative status, meaning its recommendations may serve as guidance rather than enforceable regulations. The Ministry for Ecological Transition will oversee the implementation of this strategy, which aims to address energy insecurity among low-income families while ensuring the electricity discount system is equitable and sustainable across the Spanish population.

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